Flooding fears for scenic location

Members of the Association (Henra) are lobbying councillors in Bournemouth and Christchurch and MPs for the building of coast protection works to stop a major flooding incident occurring.

Henra members and retired surveyors Ken Baldwin and Bill Hoodless have also compiled a fact sheet after carrying out their own research into the erosion and its consequences.

Members met with MP Tobias Ellwood and representatives of residents' associations in Christchurch who are backing their campaign on Tuesday.

Chairman of Henra Ed Coope said: "We want something to be done pretty drastically and we are trying to make certain people aware of the position so we can get things moving.

"It could be flooded all the way through Purewell, Mudeford and Stanpit, affecting the tourist trade and people's homes could be at risk."

The fact sheet warns that if nothing is done there may be "considerable damage" to Christchurch, large stretches of the Southbourne banks of the Harbour and properties in Bournemouth along the upstream banks of the River Stour.

Replenishing the beach with gravel dredged from the seabed is also a waste of time as it tends to wash away within three years says the association.

Mr Baldwin said: "We are lobbying Bournemouth and Christchurch councils and MPs so we can get English Nature and Defra (the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to do some works and fund it.

"Basically the official figures are that the average erosion of the cliff face is only six inches a year but Bill and I reckon it's between two and three feet a year.

"If they put proper defences along the cliffs it will stop the cliffs eroding.

"English Nature has stopped all man-made defences along that coastline because it wants geology students to see how erosion works. They are sacrificing safety in Christchurch for their research."

First published: August 18